Showers

Showers.  (I know, I fooled you into thinking I was talking about snow showers after the week we've had... but I'm not).  I'm talking clean, watery, soapy-goodness showers.  I have realized that there is a direct correlation between how I'm feeling and how often I'm showering.  The better I feel, the more I shower like my old/normal self.  The worse I feel, the less I shower and as the days go by, the more I feel like a sick, dirty version of myself.  Today is Wednesday.  I haven't showered since the weekend.

My Story (Part 2) - The Frustrating Part

(not me, my dr, or anyone I know)

I ended the first part of my overall story with the scheduling with what was to be an exploratory laparoscopy.  Here is a link to the first part: My Story (Part 1)

This is the part of my overall story that I would change if I could.  I would change just about every part of it, but at the time I didn't know better, I felt stoned all the time, and I had not yet realized I needed a much more specialized doctor than just a primary physician.  

Anyway, I scheduled the laparoscopy and had no idea what to expect.  I don't know that I even saw my surgeon before surgery... perhaps briefly as I was signing papers.  My first concern was that when the anesthesiologist came to see me, he pretty much didn't speak English.  I was left wondering how he got certified to treat patients because a language barrier is not something patients want to worry about.  He might be a great doctor, I have no idea, but I was uncomfortable and wasn't sure he had comprehended or acknowledged anything I said.  I remember being wheeled into a cold, sterile operating room, and the next thing I knew, I was still in the operating room and was being wheeled back into recovery.  

My Story (Part 1) - Beginning

I think I need to chronicle my "journey" for a few reasons.  One, for myself to maybe get some perspective.  Two, for people in my life who know the basics but never got enough details.  Three, because I know it will lead to a lot of random topics as I go, which are always fun!  So I will post my story in parts... this is the first one :)

In November, 2009, I experienced a very sharp pain in the middle of the right side of my back that wasn't responding to any over the counter pain meds.  I also had a constant urge to urinate.  So I went to the doctor when I got back from the final game of our volleyball season and was diagnosed with a kidney infection.  My doctor gave me Vicodin for the pain and Cipro (a strong antibiotic) for the infection.  Well, I found out quickly that the Vicodin helped relieve that pain and I was allergic to Cipro.  I got bumps on my arm that seemed to be a rash so I had to start the antibiotic cycle again...  (You have to take them for a full 10-14 days and if you miss a dose, or I guess if you switch medications, you get to start over).  So I was out of work with a doctor's note until the infection when away.  At this time I was seeing a primary care physician who I had been going to for a few years but I had never really had any cause to see her about anything serious.  I also was covered insurance-wise through my work with insurance that had always covered anything I needed, but I would soon learn the Beauty that is Personal Choice.  Seriously, I know most companies don't pay for it and I had never had reason to feel I should pay for it, but that would be great insurance to have in my situation.